(Ecofin Agency) - The adoption of electronic communication services is booming in Africa, driven by high demand and constant shifts in digital service consumption habits among the population.

As of December 31, 2023, Benin had 8.5 million unique subscribers to mobile telephony services, with 16.3 million SIM cards in circulation, as reported by the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (ARCEP) in its 2023 annual activity report. The regulator's figures reflect an average of two SIM cards per person and a mobile penetration rate of 67.3%.

ARCEP's report also states that the number of SIM cards with access to mobile internet services as of December 31, 2023, stood at 10.9 million. However, the number of unique mobile internet subscribers was estimated at 6.9 million during the same period, with a penetration rate of 55.4%.

The adoption of electronic communication services is on the rise in Benin. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of SIM cards connected to the networks of MTN, Celtiis, and Moov Africa increased by 12.3%. The number of SIM cards with access to mobile internet also rose by 12.4%. Over the same period, voice traffic remained stable at 6.5 billion minutes of calls, while internet traffic surged by 37.8% to reach 280 million gigabytes.

This growing adoption of electronic communication services comes amid a rapidly accelerating digital transformation, characterized by ever-increasing demand for high-speed connectivity.